Epilogue
" So did you ever finish that glitter ball?" Nathan asked.
"Nope. That's up to Tracey now."
Nathan and I were on our way to the kids ward for the New Year's in July party. I was still recovering in the hospital from my surgery but the doctors had okayed me to get up and walk around. Even though I'd been sliced open, I refused to miss the event I'd put so much time and effort into.
"I can always push you in a wheelchair if you get tired," Nathan said.
"I'm fine," I reassured him. "In fact, I'm checking out tomorrow."
"So you're feeling better?" he asked anxiously.
"I'm healing exactly as I should be," I said. "I still need to take it easy, but the doctors say I'm doing even better than they hoped."
Even though Nathan had visited me every day since I'd gotten out of the operating room, he still needed to be convinced that everything was fine.
When we reached the playroom in the kids ward, I was astonished to see all the lights and streamers and decorations strung up on the walls and ceilings. Tracey had done a great job, even without my help at the end to set up.
I spotted Nathan's mom in the corner, talking with some of the younger kids. She was still in the hospital, still experiencing symptoms. None of us knew what the outcome would be. All we could do was hope for the best and keep up our good spirits in front of her. The rest of the band was hoping along with us, now that they knew.
Helen must have been telling the kids a joke because she was smiling down at them and they were squealing with laughter. A bunch of other kids were running around, some of them blowing into their noisemakers and other screaming at the top of their lungs. I could tell it was going to be a rowdy event.
"We should try to settle them down," I said. "We've got some instruments in the music corner. Why don't you play the kids a song?"
Nathan looked uncertain, but I gave him a small push towards an acoustic guitar. His eyes lit up and I knew he wouldn't be able to resist the lure.
The minute he sat down and starting strumming, the screaming stopped as the kids took notice of him. They quieted down, most of them heading over to sit at his feet, enraptured.
I took a seat in a chair as well, rubbing at my chest lightly. I was still a little sore, as was to be expected, but it was manageable. I couldn't wait to go home, even if it was back to my parent's house.
"Becca, right?"
I turned to find a woman with cherry red hair coming into the room with Gael. It was his sister, Cerise, the lead singer. Her boyfriend Liam, along with Julian and Seth, followed them.
I smiled at them and waved them in.
"Thank you for coming," I said. "I know it's not your usual rock star party, but I thought Nathan might like it if you guys spent some time with his mom while she's not confined to her hospital bed."
"Of course," Cerise replied. She turned to me with a genuine smile. "We want to support him any way we can. I can't believe he thought we would turn our backs on him."
"Trauma from the past can really mess you up," I said.
Her expression turned sad and rueful. "Don't I know it." She looked toward where Nathan was playing guitar for the kids. "I don't think I recognize that song. It's not one of ours, is it?"
And that was the other reason I'd asked them to come today.
"It's one of his," I said. "Nathan has been writing songs on his own. I've listened to some and I think they're amazing."
"I had no idea he was composing his own songs." Her face turned thoughtful. "He always helps add on to the stuff I write, but he's never showed an interest in writing his own." She tapped her finger against her hip to the beat. "This is really good. Different from our usual sound, but I like it."
"It's great," Julian added.
"I think he'd love it if you told him that," I said.
"We will," Cerise nodded.
Nathan finished the song. The kids all clapped and cheered. His eyes scanned the room until he found me. They went wide when he saw his band members next to me, turning nervous. I motioned for him to come over.
"Why were you hiding this amazing talent from me?" Cerise asked him the second was within earshot. "Next time I'm going to make you contribute to the album more."
"Lazy ass," Gael chortled. "You just wanted to do less work, didn't you?"
"Well, you're not getting away with it any longer," Cerise said. "I'm going to work your little fingers to the bone on our next album."
There was a teasing glint in her eyes. The nervous expression on Nathan's face melted into a silly, pleased grin.
"Damn," he chuckled. "Now I can't just coast on through anymore. Guess I'd better get used to working even harder than before."
"You damn well better."
They grinned at each other. Nathan turned to me.
"You planned this, didn't you?" he asked.
"I just invited your friends," I said innocently. "I had no idea what would happen."
But I'd had a hunch.
"Hey, so…" Nathan trailed off. He looked around and took my hand, guiding me out of the room and into the hallway.
"What is it?" I asked. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing like that," he said. "I just wanted to talk to you about something."
I had no idea what he might want to talk about. My recovery, or his mom, or my parents. It could have been any number of things.
"You know I love you, right?" he asked.
"Of course," I said. "And I love you, too."
His eyes softened and he pulled me closer to him. Not close enough to be inappropriate in public, but enough that I could hear his heart beating wildly.
"So, I heard you're looking for a place to live," he said with a small smile on his face.
"Yeah, my parents are sort of freaking out about it, but?—"
Before I could say anything else, he pulled a key out of his pocket. He looked nervous, but still flashed me a shaky grin.
My heart thumped a quick beat, as madly as his.
"I know you've still got to recover," he began, "and your mom will probably want you at home until you're better, but when you're ready to move out, I'd love if you would move in with me."
He said the words in a rush, then held his breath, holding out the key to me.
I looked at it, small and shiny in the palm of his hand.
The longer I stared, the more his face turned worried.
I placed my hand over his, curling my fingers around the key.
"I would love to move in with you," I told him.
His face lit up. He cupped the back of my head and swooped down for a firm kiss. I put a hand on his chest.
"Not in front of the children," I said.
Nathan took my hand and pressed a kiss to my fingers.
"I'm so grateful I was creeping around the hospital that day," he said.
"And I'm grateful you're staying by my side, even knowing how uncertain the future might be."
"The future is always uncertain," he said. "But there's one thing I do know."
"What's that?"
"I'm always going to love you."
Nathan's curled his fingers around mine, his eyes tender, caring and full of devotion.
It was just as sweet as his kiss.